Gary Glitter appears in court over historical sex offence charges

Gary Glitter, whose legal name is Paul Gadd, appeared before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday via video link from HMP Channings Wood to face four historical sex‑offence charges. He was remanded in custody and directed to return to court on 2 September, either by video link or in person, at the Old Bailey in London. The charges comprise one count of unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 13 and three counts of indecent assault on a girl under 14. All alleged offences are said to have occurred between 1978 and 1981 at a residential address in Kensington, involving a single complainant who was aged between eight and eleven at the time. During the brief 11‑minute hearing, Gadd, dressed in a blue garment and sunglasses, confirmed his name and date of birth but otherwise remained silent. Prosecutor Jonathan Polnay KC informed the court that, in a police interview, Gadd stated he did not know the complainant and denied the allegations, describing them as false. Polnay added that the offences involved one person and took place between 1978 and 1981 while the victim was aged 8 to 11. He noted that the complainant lived near Glitter’s residence, which is how he came to know her, and that she claims he gave her cocoa and invited her into his home, where the alleged abuse occurred. The allegations were first reported to the Metropolitan Police on 9 January 2025, prompting an investigation. Gadd was initially interviewed on 22 July last year in connection with that inquiry. The Met said in July that the alleged victim is receiving support from specialist officers and has been informed that Glitter has been charged. Now 82 years old, Gadd was one of the era’s biggest pop stars, scoring a string of number‑one hits during the 1970s. He remains detained at HMP Channings Wood in Devon.